How Many Guns Does An Average American Gun Owner Own?

That’s a good question – with several equally accurate answers. In theory, all you need is to divide the number of gun owners into the number of guns – and wallah! An answer.

But there are certain difficulties with that approach. As I recently pointed out, depending on how you define a “gun owner,” there are between 65 million and 210 million gun owners in the United States.

If you count the people who fill out the Form 4473 and put payment on the counter, there are at least 65 million American gun owners. But if you count the Americans who have access to guns at home, there are more than 200 million gun owners; most likely 210 million or slightly more.

Obviously, even if we knew precisely how many guns Americans owns, we would not have a precise answer to the question. But how many guns do Americans own?

Well, that’s a poser as well. Most estimates start like the Carter Administrations “Wright Rossi Report” and assume guns have the same service life as cars. However, guns seldom wear out, and given minimal care will easily last a century or more. In fact, far more guns fall into disuse because of the lack of locally available ammunition than any other cause.

That is, Kapotnick heads for the local ammo emporium only to find they have no .50/110/450 Sharps ammunition on hand. So Kapotnick looks the gun case over, picks out a .300 WSM, a couple of boxes of ammo, fills out a Form 4473, and goes to fill his freezer. And the 130 year old Sharps becomes a wall hanger or a “safe queen.”

So the assumption that guns last no longer than a much more complex and heavily used and abused car is simply wrong. As a rule, guns have at least a 100 year service life – although I have not seen any .303 Ross ammo lately.

We do know roughly how many guns were manufactured or imported into the United States in the last century. We also know what the “mortality rate” for guns over that period should be – and we can arrive at a very reasonable estimate of the number of guns currently in circulation.

How many? 620 million. Minus 20 million, plus 35 million. So there are between 600 million and 655 million guns currently in circulation in the United States. Since many guns were privately imported, the actual number is likely to be higher than lower.

And how many guns does an “average American” own? If you count everyone in a gun owning household as a gun owner, the average American gun owner owns three guns. If you only count those who have put their money on the counter the average American gun owner owns nine guns.

You can take your choice – but we have enough guns in circulation in the United States to arm every American man, woman, and child twice over.

And violent crime is still inversely proportional to the number of guns in LOCAL circulation. More guns mean less crime. Each and every time.

UPDATE As of July 1, 2012, there are at least 78 million individuals who have “filled out a 4473 and put money on the counter.”

Those gun buyers and their families add up to 244 million Americans who live in a home with a gun, and have some claim to gun ownership.

There are more than 650 million guns that are either serviceable or that could be restored to service with a good cleaning in Americans hands.

And in the American States that are still free, there are no restrictions on the number of guns an American can own.

Continue reading here: Homicide Rates Before Guns?

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Readers' Questions

  • everard
    What percent of people own guns?
    6 months ago
  • According to a Gallup poll conducted in 2021, approximately 43% of Americans reported that they or a member of their household owned a gun. However, it is worth noting that this statistic can vary depending on the source and methodology of the survey.
    • kerttu
      How many guns per person in the u.s. 2022?
      6 months ago
    • As an AI language model, I don't have access to real-time data. However, as of 2021, it is estimated that there are approximately 120.5 firearms per 100 people in the United States, which means roughly 1.2 guns per person. Keep in mind that this is a rough estimate and may vary. For the most up-to-date and accurate information, it is recommended to consult authoritative sources or relevant data from organizations such as the Small Arms Survey or the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
      • Marianna
        What percent of america owns guns?
        6 months ago
      • According to a 2020 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, about 31% of adult Americans own guns. This represents a decline from previous years, as the percentage of Americans who owned guns was around 45% in the early 1990s.
        • daniel
          What percent of the us population owns guns?
          6 months ago
        • According to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2017, it was estimated that around 30% of U.S. adults own guns. However, it's important to note that the percentage may vary from different sources and may have changed since then.
          • Ross
            What percentage of americans are gun owners?
            6 months ago
          • According to a 2021 survey by the Pew Research Center, it is estimated that around 33% of American adults personally own a gun. However, it's important to note that this percentage can vary depending on the source and methodology used for data collection.
            • Steven
              What percent of americans are gun owners?
              6 months ago
            • The exact percentage of Americans who own guns is difficult to determine due to various factors, including legal firearm purchases, illegal firearm possession, and surveys that may not accurately capture all gun owners. However, according to a 2017 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, approximately 30% of American adults reported owning a gun. It is important to note that this percentage may not represent the current gun ownership rate.
              • kaarina
                How many privately owned guns are there in america?
                7 months ago
              • It is difficult to determine the exact number of privately owned guns in America due to the lack of a nationwide firearm registry. However, estimates suggest that there are between 393 million and 423 million firearms owned by civilians in the United States.
                • hanno
                  What percentage of people own guns?
                  7 months ago
                • According to a 2021 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, about 34% of adults in the United States report personally owning a gun. However, it is important to note that gun ownership rates can vary significantly by demographic factors such as gender, geography, and political affiliation.
                  • louisa
                    How many guns are owned by american citizens?
                    7 months ago
                  • As an AI, I don't have real-time data. However, according to a report by the Small Arms Survey, it is estimated that American civilians own approximately 393 million guns as of 2017. It is important to note that this is an estimation and the exact number is difficult to determine since there is no national firearms registration system in the United States.
                    • Bungo
                      How many gun owners in america 2022?
                      7 months ago
                    • As an AI language model, I do not have access to real-time data. As of 2021, estimates suggest that there are more than 120 million gun owners in the United States. The number of gun owners in America in 2022 could vary based on various factors such as changes in gun ownership rates, legislation, and demographic factors. To get the most up-to-date and accurate information on the number of gun owners in America in 2022, it is recommended to refer to reliable sources or research studies conducted closer to that time frame.
                      • taija
                        What percentage of americans own firearms?
                        7 months ago
                      • According to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2017, it was estimated that approximately 30% of American adults personally own a firearm. However, it is important to note that ownership rates can vary significantly by region, demographics, and other factors.
                        • margherita
                          How many people in america own guns?
                          7 months ago
                        • Based on various estimates and surveys, it is estimated that there are approximately 393 million firearms owned by civilians in the United States. However, it is important to note that this does not necessarily mean that the number of individual gun owners would be the same, as multiple firearms can be owned by a single individual. The exact number of individuals who own guns in America is difficult to determine accurately.
                          • Fatima
                            What percent of americans own firearms?
                            7 months ago
                          • According to a 2021 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, approximately 30% of U.S. adults say they personally own a firearm.
                            • john
                              What percentage of america owns guns?
                              7 months ago
                            • According to a 2021 Gallup poll, about 39% of American households reported owning at least one gun. However, it is essential to note that this statistic refers to households and not individuals. Therefore, the percentage of the American population that owns guns may be smaller than 39%. Additionally, gun ownership rates may vary across different demographics and regions in the United States.
                              • willie
                                What is the average number of guns per household in america?
                                7 months ago
                              • There is no precise data on the average number of guns per household in America. The estimates vary as gun ownership is not required to be registered, and not all gun owners participate in surveys or disclose their ownership. However, according to a report by the Pew Research Center in 2017, approximately 30% of American adults reported owning a gun or living with someone who does. It is important to note that firearm ownership varies significantly across regions, demographics, and cultural factors within the country.
                                • Jole
                                  What percent of americans own guns?
                                  7 months ago
                                • As an AI language model, I can provide information based on available data up until 2021. According to a 2017 Pew Research Center survey, approximately 30% of American adults reported owning a gun. However, it's important to note that gun ownership rates can vary depending on the source and methodology of data collection, and there may be slight changes over time.
                                  • taylor
                                    How many guns per person in america?
                                    7 months ago
                                  • As an AI language model, I cannot provide real-time data, but as of 2018, there were approximately 393 million civilian-owned firearms in the United States, according to the Small Arms Survey. In a population of around 328 million people, this roughly translates to about 1.2 guns per person on average. However, it is important to note that gun ownership is not distributed evenly, and the actual number of guns per person may vary significantly among individuals.
                                    • alan
                                      How many privately owned guns are in the united states?
                                      8 months ago
                                    • There is no exact number of privately owned guns in the United States, as there is no comprehensive national firearm registry. However, estimates suggest that there are more than 393 million firearms owned by civilians in the United States as of 2021. Please note that this is an estimate and the actual number may vary.
                                      • kerstin
                                        How many americans own guns 2022?
                                        8 months ago
                                      • As an AI language model, I don't have access to real-time data. However, according to various sources, including the National Rifle Association (NRA), and Gallup polls, the estimated number of American gun owners in recent years can provide a general idea of the ownership rate. As of 2021, it was estimated that around 43% of American households owned guns, which translates to approximately 110 million gun owners. It is important to note that these estimations can vary, and the number of gun owners may change over time due to a variety of factors. For the specific number in 2022, it would be best to consult updated surveys or research from reputable sources.
                                        • ali forbes
                                          How many guns does the average american own 2020?
                                          8 months ago
                                        • As an AI language model, I don't have real-time data, but I can provide information based on the available statistics up until a certain point. According to a study conducted by the Small Arms Survey in 2018, it estimated that there were about 393 million civilian-owned firearms in the United States, which would be an average of around 1.2 guns per person if distributed evenly across the population. As for the specific number in 2020, I don't have the exact figure as it may vary and more recent data might not be available.
                                          • NELIDA
                                            What percentage of americans own guns?
                                            8 months ago
                                          • As an AI language model, I can provide you with general information. However, please note that the exact percentage of Americans who own guns may vary depending on the source and the methodology used to gather the data. According to surveys and estimates, the percentage of American adults who own guns ranges between 30% to 40%. It is essential to note that this statistic can be subject to variations due to factors such as regional differences, changes in gun ownership laws, and variations in survey methodologies.
                                            • Uwe Gersten
                                              How many guns are owned by americans?
                                              9 months ago
                                            • It is estimated that there are over 390 million civilian-owned firearms in the United States.
                                              • Uwe Kruger
                                                How many guns does the average american own 2022?
                                                9 months ago
                                              • There is no definitive answer to this question since it depends on a variety of factors, such as the location of the individual, their income, and their own personal preferences. In general, surveys have estimated that the average American owns between one and three firearms.
                                                • shukornia
                                                  How many guns does the average american gun owner have?
                                                  9 months ago
                                                • The exact number of guns owned by the average American gun owner is difficult to determine. According to a 2018 Small Arms Survey, the average U.S. gun owner owns around two firearms.
                                                  • katharina
                                                    How many guns does the average texan own?
                                                    1 year ago
                                                  • The average Texan owns three guns.
                                                    • belladonna
                                                      How many guns does the average american own?
                                                      1 year ago
                                                    • There is no definitive answer to this question as the number of guns a person owns varies widely from person to person. According to a 2017 survey, the average number of guns owned by an American household was 3.1.
                                                      • semrawit
                                                        How many guns does the average gun owner have?
                                                        1 year ago
                                                      • The exact number of guns owned by an average gun owner is difficult to estimate, as this depends greatly on the individual and their own preferences. However, an average gun owner most likely has between one and three guns in their collection.
                                                        • Antje
                                                          How much ammo does the average american have?
                                                          1 year ago
                                                        • There is no definitive answer to this question, as every American's firearms ammunition ownership varies. According to the National Firearm Survey conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago, the average American gun owner possesses approximately 4.8 firearms.